No rest for age-defying Modric for Milan or Croatia in 2025-26 | OneFootball

Luka Modric continues to defy his years, and is still a nailed-on starter for club and county at the age of 40 with just nine minutes of rest over his last three matches for Milan and Croatia.

Only one Milan player has more Serie A minutes than Modric in 2025-26

Modric, who joined Milan as a free agent after the end of his 13 years with Real Madrid earlier this summer, has played as a starter in all six of Milan’s Serie A matches so far this term.

He was given a 16-minute rest at the end of his Serie A debut, an eventual 2-1 defeat against underdogs Cremonese, and has only been brought off once since then, for nine minutes at the end of a 3-0 win over Udinese.

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Luka Modric of AC Milan runs with the ball whilst under pressure from David Okereke of Cremonese during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Cremonese at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The former Ballon d’Or winner also played the full 90 minutes for his nation as Croatia settled for a 0-0 draw against Czechia in World Cup qualifying on Thursday evening.

The 40-year-old midfielder has been afforded some rest in the Coppa Italia, but between Serie A and national team commitments, he has only missed 23 minutes from seven matches this term.

Only centre-back Matteo Gabbia has played more minutes in Serie A for Milan than Modric so far this season. The defender has played every minute of the league campaign thus far.

Modric has even played more minutes in Serie A than first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who was brought off injured against Bologna in September and missed the following match against Udinese.